TWENTY-TWO

BACK TO PRESENT DAY

LIBERTY SMILED AS SHE LISTENED TO A’SHAI tell her the end of their journey. It was supposed to be a happy ending. Neither of them expected her health to fade before their very eyes. They had heard the doctor’s diagnosis but in the short time of two years she had lost a little bit of energy every day. Now she had none left and there was nothing left to do. Her time was coming to an end. The passionate few years she had spent with A’shai felt like a lifetime, and she was grateful to feel that type of love before dying. She remembered the day she found out that she had a failing heart. All of the signs had been there long before any doctor had confirmed the condition. She had lived a harsh life, and it took a toll on her heart. The doctors said that it was a genetic glitch, but A’shai somehow believed that if he would have protected her better she wouldn’t have had a shortened life. She had experienced so much heartbreak in her time, and it had weakened her. Since the day they met, their time together had been on a constant countdown. A’shai saw that she didn’t have much longer. It was evident in her eyes. They were not the same and he could tell that Liberty wouldn’t make it through the night. A’shai leaned down to kiss his love and ran his fingers through her hair gently while grief flowed down his face. He had spent the last seven hours telling her their life’s story. He had nursed his drink and let his words flow, all the while knowing what the ultimate unchanging end would be. His heart ached because he knew that it would be his last time telling her that story.

“I’m cold, babe,” Liberty whispered as she closed her eyes. A’shai couldn’t help himself and even though he tried to fight his emotions, not wanting to appear weak . . . tears slowly fell and dripped off his trembling lip. He knew that his love was fading away into GOD’s glorious light.

“I’m cold too, baby,” A’shai said as he downed the last of his drink and lay next to Liberty while holding her tightly. He knew that the Black Tea that he had sipped while he told Liberty their story was slowly killing him. He wanted to die with her. Nothing had separated them since their escape, and he vowed that nothing ever would. They would be together forever on the other side. “I love you,” he whispered as he felt himself becoming drowsy as a weak sensation took over him.

“I love you more,” she whispered as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She was on the edge and was about to slip off. He felt his heartbeat slowing down, and he managed to release a small smile along with a final tear of joy.

They were about to die together. It was a beautiful death. They would both finally be free as birds with none of the ills that the world had to offer. None of their past burdens weighed them down . . . not MURDERVILLE, not Sierra Leone or the Rebellion, not even the harsh hand that the streets had dealt them. They transcended all of the pain as their bodies failed them. They lay in each other’s arms, and they both closed their eyes as they embraced, wanting to hold onto one another forever.